Battle of Sufetula (546 or 547)
Battle of Sufetula | |||||||
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Part of the Moorish wars | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Byzantine Empire Pro-Roman Berbers |
Ifuraces Kingdom of Aures | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
John Troglita Putzintulus Geiserith Cutzinas |
Antalas Ierna Carcasan Bruten | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
The Battle of Sufetula took place in either late 546 or early 547, at
Background
In late 546, when John Troglita reached Carthage, the situation was dire: the imperial troops, under Marcentius the dux of Byzacena and Gregory the Armenian in Carthage, were few in number and demoralized. They held out in the coastal cities, blockaded by the Moors of Byzacena under their chieftain Antalas, while the Leuathae and Austurae tribes from Tripolitania were raiding Byzacena with impunity. Diplomatic efforts, however, secured the allegiance of the Moorish leaders Cutzinas and Ifisdaias, who joined the imperial army with several thousand of their men. In addition, the tribesmen of the Aurès Mountains under Iaudas withdrew to Numidia on learning of Troglita's arrival and pursued a course of armed neutrality.[4]
Upon his arrival in Carthage, Troglita reorganized his troops, bolstering the local forces with the veterans he had brought with him – mostly
Battle
Corippus narrates the subsequent battle at length, but his imitation of Virgilian verse provides little concrete detail: it is clear that it was a long, indecisive, and bloody conflict, which probably took place to the south or east of Sbeitla in late 546 or early 547. Eventually, the Byzantines prevailed and drove back the Moors, breaking through their defenses and storming their camp. According to Corippus, Ierna, who was the chief priest of the god Gurzil, was killed while trying to protect an image of the god. Many other tribal leaders fell, and the remainder scattered. The remains of the Tripolitanian tribes abandoned Byzacena, and Antalas was forced to lay down arms. In addition, many prisoners were released from the Moorish camp, and among the treasures captured there were the military standards lost by Solomon at Cillium in 544. These were dispatched to Constantinople, while Troglita held a triumphal entry into Carthage.[6]
Aftermath
Despite the victory, the war kept raging, and the berber chieftain of the
References
- ISBN 0313395691. p. 17.
- ^ Martindale 1992, pp. 87, 647.
- ^ Bury 1958, p. 147.
- ^ Diehl 1896, pp. 366–368.
- ^ Diehl 1896, pp. 366, 368–369; Martindale 1992, pp. 612, 647.
- ^ Diehl 1896, pp. 369–371; Martindale 1992, pp. 612, 647.
- ISBN 978-2-87772-858-4.
- ^ Martindale, Jones et Morris 1992, p. 270.
- ^ Gibbon, Edward (1958). The End of the Roman Empire in the West: The Barbarian Conquests and the Transition to the Middle Ages: A. D. 439-565. Harper.
Sources
- ISBN 0-486-20399-9.
- Diehl, Charles (1896). L'Afrique Byzantine. Histoire de la Domination Byzantine en Afrique (533–709) (in French). Paris, France: Ernest Leroux.
- ISBN 0-521-20160-8.